News & Media

Welcome to the BNSF newsroom. Here, you’ll find news releases, customer notifications and media assets available for use by news organizations. Looking for a media contact within BNSF? Get in touch with us using the Media Contacts list on the left.

Scheduled Retirees

Suppliers

BNSF purchases material and service items from an extensive list of sources. We seek to acquire quality goods and services at the lowest total cost of ownership by working resourcefully, efficiently, effectively and ethically with both current and prospective suppliers.

Supplier Relationship

Diverse Business Enterprise

We are committed to proactively identify, attract and develop long-term partnerships with certified minority, woman and veteran-owned and small disadvantaged businesses, while fulfilling BNSF Vision and Values.

Customers

Ship with BNSF

From the materials that help create products people use every day to the actual finished products, our consistent and cost-effective service takes products of any size to customers when and where they need them.

No matter what you're shipping, BNSF has a service to meet your needs.

New to Rail or BNSF?

Rail Development

From the materials that help create products people use every day to the actual finished products, our consistent and cost-effective service takes products of any size to customers when and where they need them. No matter what you're shipping, BNSF has a service to meet your needs.

In the Community

For more than 160 years, BNSF Railway has been an essential connector – safely and efficiently transporting freight from point A to point B. But we don't just move freight; we touch people and communities along the way. We're proud to tell our story and how we strive to be a trusted partner worthy of your respect.

Hazardous Materials

Economic Impact

U.S. and global economies rely on rail, and BNSF is a vital link in the global supply chain. We enable our customers to participate in a wide range of markets in North America and around the world. Recognizing our contribution to our nation's economy, we work to listen and respond to customers' needs, maintain strong corporate governance, provide value to investors, and strategically invest to keep our rail network strong.

Tribal Relations

BNSF Railway’s first-in-the-industry Tribal Relations program seeks to build and strengthen ties with the many diverse tribal nations on BNSF’s network, and to foster within BNSF a greater cultural understanding of these tribal nations, their rights and governance, cultural resources, and other crucial issues.

Our People

The people who work at BNSF are the ones who drive the railroad to success. BNSF people are from all areas of the country and have a variety of skills. BNSF is focused on keeping the railroad moving forward, meeting customers' needs and serving the communities where our employees live and work.

Our Railroad

Virtual Tour

Every day, BNSF Railway operates about 1,300 trains across a 32,500-mile network in 28 states and three Canadian provinces. More than 42,000 people operate this network, making an enormous contribution to the U.S. economy by moving the goods people need in their daily lives.

Awards & Honors

Contact Us

At BNSF, we are committed to providing you the information you need to make informed transportation decisions. If you would like more information on any of the subjects contained in this section, please feel free to contact us.

Canada - Proving Borders Needn't Be Boundaries

At BNSF Railway, we know that transporting goods between Canada, the U.S. and other countries can be challenging. Yet, we have the people, processes and technology, and are equipped with extensive experience, connections and know-how to make international transport happen efficiently and effectively.

Contacts: Experienced professionals with a combined 370 years experience dedicated to the Canadian/U.S. transportation market are stationed in every major Canadian gateway, providing knowledge of local culture and unique local administrative requirements.

Customs Requirements: List of requirements designed to simplify the Canadian shipping experience.

Shipping Information and Processes: Instructions and resources to help move freight smoothly across the border, including step-by-step trans-border processes and car billing directions, descriptions of Rail AMS and the Customs In-Bond program.

Special Rail Service Alliances: Connections with industry leaders cover the country, including the Canadian National and Canadian Pacific rail networks.

When it comes to transporting materials and finished goods, being approachable, progressive, vital and resourceful has resulted in close cross-border ties.

It has been our commitment and revolutionary approach to service that has allowed us to serve our customers and meet all regulations with our governing partners.

PARS/INPARS Filing Process

Upon receipt of waybill information, BNSF will fax a Pre-Arrival Manifest to the appropriate broker and an electronic version to Canada Customs. This could be up to 30 days before the rail shipment physically arriving at the border.

Brokers file a PARS or INPARS Release Package with Canada Customs upon receipt of the Pre-Arrival Manifest or as soon as possible, using the appropriate port code as the release office.

Once the broker has presented the PARS/INPARS Release Package to Canada Customs, BNSF receives an electronic acknowledgement verifying the Declaration Accepted.

Upon train's departure, BNSF will fax a Train List of cars associated with each broker. This allows the broker to be aware of the location and estimated time of arrival at the border. BNSF will also fax a Post-Arrival Manifest to the appropriate broker at this time. File all PARS/INPARS Release Packages before the receipt of this notice. If the Release Package is not filed before receipt of notice, a PARS/INPARS entry to Canada Customs needs to be filed as soon as possible to eliminate the car being delayed.

BNSF will electronically transmit an arrival notification to Canada Customs for all cars in the train two hours before the physical arrival at the port of entry.

Canada Customs will electronically transmit a release/hold decision to BNSF upon receipt of the electronic arrival notice. Traffic with a release notification received will flow directly to the customer. Traffic for which no release decision has been received or a hold disposition code is received, the rail car will be stopped and held until a release is received or a physical examination is completed by Canada Customs.

BNSF will send three faxes to the brokers:

Pre-Arrival Manifest

Train List showing cars associated to each broker

Post-Arrival Manifest

Important: Brokers filing an RMD before receiving the Post Arrival Manifest could result in an AMPS penalty. Be certain that BNSF has reported the carloads to Canada Customs as having arrived.

Export and Import Requirements

Shipper's full name and address (actual owner [exporter] of the cargo from the foreign country)

Consignee's full name and address (party to whom the cargo will be delivered in the United States.)

Port Brokers

Shipping from Canada to the U.S. or Mexico

Canada shipper loads car destined for the U.S. Shipping instructions provided to the rail carrier must include U.S. broker. Mexico-bound shipments must have the freight forwarder and final destination showing the Mexico state.

When the shipper instructions are received, the customs broker is immediately notified via EDI.

On the U.S. side, the U.S. Customs broker must pre-file entry documentation for the railcar before the railcar is allowed entry into the U.S. Find more information on the Rail AMS page.

U.S. Customs processes the customs broker's entry and may select the document for exam. If selected for exam, railcar may be unloaded to verify contents.

Upon entry into the U.S., U.S. Customs advises the importing carrier and the responsible U.S. Customs broker whether the railcar has been released or the railcar must be held for examination.

Carrier creates a cargo control document from Shippers bill of lading. The inbond manifest is electronically sent to the Canadian Customs Broker. Canada Customs facilitates entry filing before car reaches border.

Unit arrives at the border where Canada Customs releases or refers railcar for examination.

Units selected for examination may have to be off-loaded for intensive examination to verify piece counts, product description, etc. Many bulk commodities, such as grain or coal, only require a cursory visual verification. If everything is correct as declared, the unit will be released for furtherance to final destination. If Canada Customs elects to perform an intensive examination, the carrier is notified who in turn notifies the Canadian Customs Broker. The Canadian Customs Broker secures a bonded warehouse, advising the carrier of off-load destination.